Lake Sunapee Bank has reduced the offering price from $420,000 to $300,000 until the end of the year as a way to take the parcel off its books.

The bank acquired it when it merged with Randolph National Bank, which held the mortgage that was in default. The Upper Valley Snow Sports Foundation is now planning to resurrect the ski area this season with the eventual hope of ownership and operation.

"We are excited to announce that we have raised $250,000 toward that goal through gifts from the Byrne Foundation and other generous donors, leaving just $50,000 to be raised," the group said in an email sent to supporters this weekend.

"We need your help to do this so that we can stay properly capitalized and debt-free," the group said. "This $50,000 capital campaign is part of our larger Phase II campaign to buy the Whaleback property outright. We just need to do it much quicker."

Whaleback, located along Interstate 89, has roughly 5,000 skier/rider visits from Upper Valley towns, with 500 visitors from weekly school group programs.

It expects to open Dec. 26.

There are more than 200 student/athletes in clubs and on teams at Whaleback and more than 1,000 young competitors from New England and 400 individuals taking lessons this winter.

Also popular is an adult race league under the lights with almost 200 competing.

Hillary Clinton did not have a State Department email account while she served as America's top diplomat, a senior state department official said Monday, and instead used a personal email account during her four years on the job.